Two  of  our  neighbours  -  kangaroos.

 

 

 

This  picture  was  taken  early  one  misty  morning  and  shows  the  2  element,  HF,  Cubex  Quad  antenna.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The  multiband  HF  ground  plane  antenna  featuring  the  Hustler  6BTV  vertical.

.

 

 

 

This 'Bush block' is about 450 acres in size. We often sit here of an evening and have a drink over looking the countryside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It  doesn't  rain  like  this  here  very  often.

 

 

The Ham Radio stations shown on this page are all isolated and solar powered. Nearest power grid is in the town about 10 klms away.

We have good 4G wireless Internet connection though from the town. This enables the stations to be remotely controlled via the Internet.

 

 

 

One  of  the  Ham  Radio  shacks  at  the  property  -  solar  powered.  The  large  battery  on  the  left  has  been  in  use  for  nearly 11  years  now.

 

 

 

An  80  watt  solar  panel  slowly  charges  the  battery.

 

 

The  shack  set  up  for  remote  operating  from  the  home  Qth.  IC-7600  and  FT-897.

The  remote  control  system  used  is  the  Swedish  system,  'Remote Rig'.

 

 

 

The  second  solar  station  -  the  renovated  caravan  shack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The  caravan  before  having  been  renovated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The  green  top  of  the  battery  can  be  seen  in  the  foreground.  Here  is  a  page  dedicated  to  this  caravan  shack.

If  interested,  click  caravan shack.  It  will  open  in  a  new  window.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The  first  solar  shed  my  Dad  and  I  built  using  second  hand  fencing  iron  about  20  years  ago,  I  guess.

A  few  years  ago,  it  was  set  up  to  be  able  to  remotely  control  a  Yaesu  FT-450D  run  by  solar  power.  The  stations  are  unattended.

 

 

 

 

 

The  blue  SMS  relay  switch  shown,  which  has  now  been  upgraded,  enables  the  radio  station  to  be  turned  on  when  about  to  operate

and  turned  off  again  when  shutting  down.  This  is  achieved  by  using  your  cell  phone  to  send  an  appropriate  SMS  message  to  the

SMS  relay  switch.  The  switch  then  sends  back  to  your  phone  an  SMS  telling  you  that  the  radios  etc.  have  been  turned  on  or  off

as  the  case  may  be.  Shortly  after,  you  can  connect  to  the  radio  via  the  Internet.  Otherwise,  if  the  radio  etc.  is  left  turned  on

all  the  time,  the  battery  would  soon  become  depleted  and  unusable.  Here  is  a  page  dedicated  to  this  remotely  controlled  station.

If  interested,  click  green shed.  It  will  open  in  a  new  window.

 

 

 

It's taking me a long time to finish this solar shack. Don't seem to have much enthusiasm for physical work these days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's good in here in the cold weather with the pot belly stove going, but too hot in summer.

 

 

 

The  remote  operating  position  at  the  home  Qth.  (Information about remote control can be found at the bottom of this page.)

 

 

 

The  home  Qth  -  150 klms  away  from  the  Ham  Radio  station.

 

 

 

Remote  operating  via  the  Internet  from  the  home  Qth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For  information  about  powering  your  radio  station  using  solar  power,  if  interested,  click  on  the  link  at  the  bottom  of  this  page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to the Top

 

 

This Youtube video was made in 2011, before remotely controlled. It shows the location in the Bush and the main solar shack. It runs for 7 minutes. Speakers on.

  Sorry, but the audio volume is a problem on these videos. Unfortunately, I can't correct it.

 

 

This upgraded High Energy, High Definition Drone Video shows, from above, my 4 Solar Powered Amateur Radio Shacks on our property in the South Australian Bush.

Uploaded on 26th January, 2020 which was 'Australia Day.'  Runs for about 9 minutes. Speakers on. The Drone used was the 'DJI Mavic Air'. 

Both videos which need a fast Internet connection, feature background music tracks sung by Australian country music legend, Lee Kernaghan.